Future You on WhatsApp.

Oaklands College welcomes prospective students to its open events every year, and many arrive unsure about their future.

Traditional channels weren’t working. Emails went unread, calls went unanswered, and many registrations used a parent’s email address, which cut students out of the conversation entirely. For neurodivergent or anxious students, the barriers were higher still.

A WhatsApp re-engagement trial during enrolment showed the difference, with a 90% response rate. The question became whether WhatsApp could also support meaningful careers guidance, not just reminders.

Future You uses Flowella to turn traditional careers forms into conversational WhatsApp journeys, with all the data flowing back into HubSpot.

Students opt in by scanning a QR code at open events or school visits, then complete a short, neurodiversity-inclusive survey using accessible options such as emojis. They share their interests, learning preferences and any barriers directly, without parents in the loop, in a low-pressure, private format.

Flowella suggests three career areas aligned with Oaklands’ prospectus. Students who upload a photo receive an AI-generated image of themselves in a future role; those who don’t get a picture of the career setting. Holding messages highlight the sports academies and the routes on to university.

At the October 2025 open days, same-day applications rose 160% on previous events.

And students replied: WhatsApp response rates reached 90%, where email had gone unread.